Bernard Schoenburg: Tracy doesn’t want to see liberal Dem as Illinois first lady

Sunday

Feb 2, 2014 at 1:09 AM

State Rep. JIL TRACY, R-Quincy, a candidate for lieutenant governor, didn’t mince words last week when talking about the politics of the spouse of another candidate.

But she says it was that candidate for governor, Winnetka businessman BRUCE RAUNER, who brought his wife into the mix by using her as an excuse for making big donations to Democratic politicians.

“How can it help rebuild our Republican Party to elect a governor who has voted in the 2006 Democratic primary, and … when asked about his donations to Democrats rebuts it and says his liberal Democrat wife is the one that made those,” Tracy said of Rauner at a Sangamon County Republican Network lunch at the Sangamo Club. Also speaking was Tracy’s running mate, state Sen. KIRK DILLARD, R-Hinsdale.

“I don’t want a first lady in the mansion that’s a liberal Democrat,” Tracy added.

When I asked her about the directness of that statement, Tracy said she would “give that more thought,” but also said Rauner had brought up his wife in the donating-to-Democrats context at a forum a couple weeks earlier in Riverside Township.

“He said, ‘My wife, you understand, is a very liberal Democrat,’” Tracy said.

Rauner’s wife, DIANA MENDLEY RAUNER, is president of the Chicago-based Ounce of Prevention Fund, a public-private partnership that prepares children for success in school and life, according to that organization’s website.

Rauner in the past has said he voted in the 2006 Democratic primary to back FORREST CLAYPOOL for Cook County Board president over JOHN STROGER JR., the Chicago Tribune has reported. Claypool, now president of the Chicago Transit Authority, was considered the reform candidate at the time but didn’t win.

As for donating to Democrats, Diana Rauner’s name is listed, for example, on $5,500 in donations to former state Sen. JEFF SCHOENBERG, D-Evanston, from 2006 to 2008. But the only name state elections records show associated with $200,000 given to then-Chicago Mayor RICHARD J. DALEY — $50,000 in 2003 and $150,000 in 2006 — is BRUCE VINCENT RAUNER.

Rauner has also told me he gave $300,000 to ED RENDELL, former head of the Democratic National Committee, “to have influence with the head of the DNC so I could have discussions about education reform.”

The Ounce of Prevention Fund’s senior vice president for advocacy and policy, ELLIOT REGENSTEIN, issued a statement after Gov. PAT QUINN’s State of the State address Wednesday saying the organization was “extremely pleased” with Quinn’s call for more high-quality early childhood education.

“Through its Preschool for All and home visiting programs, Illinois has been a national leader,” but more must be done, the statement said.

“We join Governor Quinn in calling for bipartisan support of Illinois’ youngest and most vulnerable.”

Rauner told reporters at the Statehouse after the speech that Illinois, under Quinn, is in an “economic death spiral.” He did say that early and other education is “a top priority,” but said Quinn has been defunding education in recent years and spending money on things like “bad pension deals.”

Quinn spokeswoman BROOKE ANDERSON responded by saying that Quinn never advocated cuts, and some came due to legislative action.

“After inheriting a financial crisis from two corrupt governors in a row and the worst recession since the Great Depression,” Anderson said, the governor’s leadership helped keep education from suffering “extreme and radical budget cuts.”

She also said the pension fix passed by lawmakers will help restore fiscal stability. That fix is being challenged in court and was criticized by Rauner.

Dillard said Tracy “has her own opinions,” but he thinks there are “plenty of issues” he can use against Rauner “without involving his wife.”

MIKE SCHRIMPF, spokesman for Rauner, said via email, “While Rep. Tracy may have forgotten that the governor’s mansion belongs to all the citizens of Illinois, I am confused why she wants someone who made a TV ad for BARACK OBAMA and teamed with ROD BLAGOJEVICH to increase the state’s debt to live there.”

Dillard talked of across-the-aisle cooperation in an ad that President Obama used in the 2008 primary season, and in 2003 Dillard joined three other Republicans in the Senate, including then-Sen. LARRY BOMKE, R-Springfield, in helping pass a $10 billion bond authorization Blagojevich sought.

The other GOP candidates for governor are state Treasurer DAN RUTHERFORD of Chenoa and state Sen. BILL BRADY of Bloomington

Backing Traux

State Rep. RAYMOND POE, R-Springfield, and Bomke have both endorsed DOUG TRUAX of Downers Grove for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate.

“Doug Truax is a perfect contrast with (Democratic U.S. Sen.) DICK DURBIN,” Poe said in a Truax news release. “He has a military and private sector background and the firm belief that the private sector fuels our prosperity, not government.”

Truax, a West Point grad, is running against state Sen. JIM OBERWEIS of Sugar Grove for the nomination to take on Durbin.

Oberweis said several lawmakers have endorsed him, contributed to his campaign, or both. LIZ EILERS of Riverton is his central Illinois director.

State Sen. MATT MURPHY, R-Palatine, for example, said he has contributed to Oberweis and is considering if he should make a formal endorsement.

“I like Jim,” Murphy said.

Oberweis this past week visited Washington, D.C., and people he met with included GROVER NORQUIST, president of Americans for Tax Reform. He said he met with officials of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who indicated they would not get involved in the primary.

DAN CURRY, spokesman for Truax, said the candidate has raised about $220,000 during the campaign season.

Radio changes

SHAWN BALINT, 44, took over at the beginning of the year as news director of Neuhoff Media Springfield, which includes WFMB-AM and WFMB-FM, WCVS-FM and WXAJ-FM.

His job includes booking guests for and being co-host of the morning show “AM Springfield” on WFMB-AM, with SAM MADONIA. FLYNN HANNERS, who is retired from the Illinois State Police and was filling that role part time, is no longer with the stations, said KEVIN O’DEA, Neuhoff vice president and general manager.

Balint, of Springfield, has an associate degree in radio broadcasting from Lewis and Clark Community College. He worked in Springfield at WMAY-AM from 1996 to 1999, and again from 2001 to 2006. He also had stints at KTRS-AM in St. Louis from 1999 to 2001 and 2006 to 2011. He has also worked in Taylorville and Maryland.

Balint said he brings a good knowledge of social media, and he’s enjoying working with Madonia, who can “talk to anybody.”

Meanwhile, at WMAY, FRITZ PFISTER, who has also emceed some local tea party events, ended his hourlong weekday morning show last week after 16 months, saying he could no longer commit the time. He still has a show about real estate on the station on Saturdays.

Spotlight on Lockhart

Friends, legislators, staff and colleagues will be gathering in Springfield this week to celebrate the 90th birthday of lobbyist DICK LOCKHART of Chicago.

Lockhart, a World War II veteran who was a prisoner of war and is a well-liked fixture at the Statehouse on session days, created his lobbying firm, Social Engineering Associates, in 1958.

While his birthday was actually Sept. 20, the no-gift reception will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Sangamo Club, with a program at about 6 p.m. Friends and colleagues are welcome.